higher education

TribLive: A Conversation with Cigarroa and Sharp

By Rodney Gibbs April 10, 2013

Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of The University of Texas System, and John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, join Evan Smith, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune, in a conversation about higher education and the future of Texas' largest two university systems. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on March 28, 2013. TribLives feature moderated discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Senate Passes Bill to Keep UT's Top 10 Percent Cap

By Brandi Grissom and Reeve Hamilton April 9, 2013

The Texas Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would allow the University of Texas at Austin to maintain its cap on automatic admissions no matter the outcome of Fisher v. University of Texas. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Zaffirini Bill Would Clarify Open Records Obligations

By Reeve Hamilton April 9, 2013

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed a bill on Monday to clarify the open records obligations of state agencies, including — some would say specifically — the University of Texas System. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Guest Column: The UT Story Not Being Told

By Alex Cranberg April 9, 2013

When the drama surrounding recent decisions by the University of Texas System regents dominates the conversation about higher education, the truly critical issues facing our students and their families are left unexamined. Full Story
Seliger: Perry Should Address UT System Tensions

By Reeve Hamilton April 8, 2013

Amid mounting tensions between the University of Texas System and the Legislature, Senate Higher Education Chairman Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, is calling for Gov. Rick Perry to step in and calm the waters. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
UT System Regent Calls for Legislative Hearings

By Reeve Hamilton April 7, 2013

As tensions between lawmakers and the University of Texas System regents worsen, one regent is calling for hearings at the Capitol. “The legislators have serious questions,” Alex Cranberg told the Tribune. “Let’s be able to respond.” Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Four UT System Regents Call for Special Meeting

By Reeve Hamilton April 7, 2013

Amid heightened tensions with state lawmakers, four University of Texas System regents have called for a special meeting of their board, likely to be held this week. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Open Records Expert Calls Powell's Request "Frivolous"

By Reeve Hamilton April 6, 2013

UPDATED: University of Texas System Regent Alex Cranberg told the Tribune late Saturday that the Legislature "deserves all the information we can get them as fast as we can." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
At Newspaper Conference, Powers Deflects Talk of UT Conflict

By Chris Hooks April 6, 2013

UT-Austin President Bill Powers addressed the future — and turbulent present — of the University of Texas System at the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors convention on Saturday. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey April 6, 2013

Batheja on a House budget without vouchers or Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on obstacles to a new power plant in El Paso, Permenter on deer breeder regulations, E. Smith’s interview with San Antonio’s Castro twins, Galbraith on proposals for new underground water reservoirs, Root finds holes in a UT regent's appointment files, M. Smith on a planned school rating system that defied recommendations, Murphy maps oil and gas disposal wells in Texas, Dehn on objections to a bigger Medicaid program and Hamilton on efforts to lure gun makers to Texas: The best of our best for the week of April 1-5, 2013. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
UT System Asks to Withhold Records From Lawmakers

By Reeve Hamilton April 5, 2013

UPDATED: In light of the University of Texas System's request to withhold records from lawmakers, state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, issued a statement saying, "My only conclusion is that they have something to hide." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
UT Regent Defends Review of Law School Foundation

By Reeve Hamilton April 4, 2013

UPDATED: University of Texas System Regent Bobby Stillwell explained to the Tribune why he disagrees with his colleague Alex Cranberg's assessment of the need for an external review of the UT Law School Foundation. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
An Advantage for Powers, for Eight More Weeks

By Reeve Hamilton April 4, 2013

There are only eight weeks until the legislative session ends and most lawmakers go home, which means time may be running out for defenders of Bill Powers and the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Duane Nellis: The TT Interview

By Reeve Hamilton April 3, 2013

The incoming president of Texas Tech University on his vision for the institution and why he isn't worried about coming to work in a state that is experiencing some debate around the issues of higher education governance. Full Story
SXSWedu Audio: Navigating Financial Aid

By Reeve Hamilton April 3, 2013

With concerns about student debt and the price of college on the rise, the state’s leading financial aid experts joined the Tribune at SXSWedu to discuss what students, institutions and lawmakers can do to keep college affordable. Full Story
Thousands Sign Up for UT-Austin's First EdX Courses

By Reeve Hamilton April 1, 2013

On Thursday night, the University of Texas at Austin opened four massive open online courses for registration. By Monday morning, total enrollment in the free courses stood at 14,000 — and counting. Full Story
Is Perry-Powers Tension About Rivalry or Policy?

By Ross Ramsey April 1, 2013

The undercurrents of the bickering between Gov. Rick Perry's administration and UT-Austin President Bill Powers offer a gold mine for the conspiratorial set, with fuel for every obsession: politics, deep school rivalries, policy and governance. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Nicolas Raymond / Todd Wiseman
TribLive: A Conversation With Cigarroa and Sharp

By Evan Smith March 29, 2013

Full video of my 3/28 TribLive conversation with University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. Full Story
For Perry, School Trumps Party and Politics

By Ross Ramsey March 29, 2013

Gov. Rick Perry torments Democrats and disparages trial lawyers, but he likes Aggies. Even if they're Democratic trial lawyers. Full Story

Credit: Dave Fehling/StateImpact Texas
Pitts Amendments Would Limit Authority of UT Regents

By Reeve Hamilton March 29, 2013

Multiple amendments to the budget pre-filed by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, would limit the spending authority of the University of Texas System regents. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich